The World of Avatar is divided into four independent nations: the Air Nomads, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and after the end of the Harmony Restoration Movement, the United Republic of Nations, respectively. Each location has unique physical geography, landmarks, climates, and demography which conform to the quality or attributes of the nation's corresponding element. The Air Nomads have four temples located in the north, south, east, and west of the Earth. There are two main Water Tribes, situated north and south of the Earth Kingdom, the most expansive and populated state in the world. The Fire Nation is located in the west of the world and is an archipelago of volcanic islands. Each nation has a predominant season, and geography has a great influence on the customs and culture of each country.

Contents

Locations

Air Nomads

Eastern Air Temple

The Eastern Air Temple was one of the two temples exclusively housing female airbenders. Like the other temples, its population was completely exterminated during the Air Nomad Genocide. Guru Pathik resided here for a considerable amount of time, as he waited years for Aang to come so he could teach the Avatar how to properly control the Avatar State.[1]

Northern Air Temple

The Northern Air Temple is a temple that hosted only male monks. It is located in the upper reaches of the northern Earth Kingdom, built upon a snow-capped mountain. This temple was also a victim of the Air Nomad Genocide, along with all the other air temples. By 100 AG, it had become renowned for its arbitrary colonization by Earth Kingdom refugees, who were led by the mechanist. Up to that point, the area had undergone rapid industrialization.[2]

Southern Air Temple

The Southern Air Temple was one of the four sanctuaries owned by the Air Nomads. It is the one located closest to the Southern Water Tribe and exclusively housed male airbenders. This region is notable for being the childhood home of AvatarAang,[3] and it was also the place where Avatar Roku learned airbending.

Western Air Temple

The Western Air Temple was a counterpart of the Eastern Air Temple, maintaining only female airbenders. It is situated in an island mountain range due north of the Fire Nation. Unlike the other air temples, this one consists of multiple small structures and portions versus merely a single large one. It too was a victim of the Air Nomad Genocide, which decimated all of its population. The temple is also notable in that, contrary to the other three temples, it is situated underneath the edge of a cliff, as opposed to a mountaintop. The spires seem as though they were constructed upside-down, and because of that, the temple is generally difficult to locate for passers-by.[4]

Water Tribe

Foggy Swamp

Though an outlying expanse of the tribe, this vast and mysterious wetland occupies a considerable portion of the southwestern Earth Kingdom. It provides an ideal residence for the Foggy Swamp Tribe, who are descended from immigrants of the Southern Water Tribe. The Swamp has an extensive array of fauna and flora, the latter of which are actually just a series of roots connected to one central tree, the towering banyan grove.[5]

Northern Water Tribe

The Northern Water Tribe capital is built within high walls of ice and surrounded by huge swathes of inhospitable tundra terrain.

The Northern Water Tribe is the largest division of its nation and is located on an island situated near the North Pole. The capital city prospers in its isolation.[6] No attack from the Fire Nation on the city during the Hundred Year War ever ended in a loss for the tribe, including the tumultuous Siege of the North.[7] After the fall of Ba Sing Se, the Northern Water Tribe boasted the only major city in the world to not be under Fire Nation jurisdiction.

Southern Water Tribe

The Southern Water Tribe is a minor division of the Water Tribe. Its people are scattered in tiny villages and settlements located on an island by the South Pole.[8] Unlike its thriving sister tribe, the people of the Southern Water Tribe were teetering on the edge of extinction during the Hundred Year War due to Fire Nation raids.[9] However, following the Siege of the North, several volunteers traveled from the Northern Water Tribe to help rebuild their sister tribe.[7] Through their efforts, the South underwent a major expansion, and by 171 AG, it had a large harbor city as its capital, along with numerous other smaller cities and villages scattered around the South Pole.[10]

Earth Kingdom

Central regions

Full Moon Bay

Full Moon Bay is a secluded cove in East Lake, located just south of Ba Sing Se. It is the location of a hidden ferry station that refugees from all over the southern portion of the Earth Kingdom come to on their way to Ba Sing Se.[11]

Northeastern regions

Ba Sing Se

Ba Sing Se is the monolithic capital of the Earth Kingdom, encompassing nearly the entire northeast corner of the country. It was the last great Earth Kingdom stronghold after the fall of Omashu.[14] Ba Sing Se means "impenetrable city", an honorary reference to its two insurmountable walls, the gates of which have no hinges and can therefore not be opened in any way aside from the use of earthbending.[15]

Serpent's Pass

The Serpent's Pass is a narrow strip of land between the East and West Lakes that links the southern and northern halves of the Earth Kingdom. It is one of the very few direct paths to the capital, Ba Sing Se. The pathway is named after the serpent which guards the point at which the East and West Lakes meet. Here, the Serpent's Pass dips below the lakes for a limited distance. These adversities make the Serpent's Pass a typically avoided entryway into Ba Sing Se, and most refugees prefer to go by ferry instead.[11]

Northwestern regions

Merchant town

The merchant town is a minor trading settlement located high in the mountains of the northwestern Earth Kingdom. Historically, this region was the site of numerous airbender murders, as survivors of the genocide were tricked by firebenders into coming to this location when they heard rumors of its mysterious possession of Air Nomad relics. Such airbenders were consequently killed in a decisive ambush.[16]

Southern regions

Chin Village

Chin Village is a small town located on the cliffs of the Earth Kingdom's southwestern coast. It is named for Chin the Great, a warlord and conqueror who nearly conquered the Earth Kingdom. It plays host to the unique "Avatar Day" festival, a celebration that used to be a celebration in hate of the Avatar but is now held in honor of the Avatar.[17]

Gaoling

Gaoling is a large town located within a mountain range in the southern Earth Kingdom. It is home to both the wealthy Beifong family and the Earth Rumble tournaments. An old, well-established city, Gaoling has a spectrum of people residing in it, ranging from the very rich to the very poor. Because it was not in a particularly strategic location, the town was left untouched by the Hundred Year War. This is evidenced by the attitude of many of its residents.[18]

Kyoshi Island

Kyoshi Island is a small island off the southern coast of the Earth Kingdom, dotted with many small villages. It is famous as the birthplace of Avatar Kyoshi, and as the home of the elite Kyoshi Warriors.[19] The island was created when Chin the Conqueror threatened to invade and conquer the former peninsula. Avatar Kyoshi separated Kyoshi Peninsula from the Earth Kingdom mainland to keep her people safe from future threats.[17]

Omashu

Omashu is the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom and the capital of one of its provinces.[20] Only Ba Sing Se, the titanic capital of the Earth Kingdom, is larger. It was one of the last great strongholds of the Earth Kingdom before its fall in the months before the end of the Hundred Year War, and a supplier of men and weaponry. Previously ruled by KingBumi, Omashu was taken over by the Fire Nation and renamed New Ozai.[14] During the Day of Black Sun, King Bumi single-handedly liberated Omashu, and all the powerless firebenders abandoned the city.

Plains village

The plains village is located in the arid grasslands of the southern Earth Kingdom, to the west of the Si Wong Desert. It was not the most ideal place to live in and was home to several suspicious characters, including Gow, who, along with his gang of thugs, passed off as Earth Kingdom soldiers in order to force the citizens to yield to their will. They often forcefully enlisted unwilling citizens into the Earth Kingdom Army and stole from those they considered weak, and as such, the town was often forced to live in fear of this band. The citizens of the village seemed to harbor a severe hatred for the Fire Nation, and several of its citizens left to fight in the Hundred Year War.

Western regions

Cave of Two Lovers

Located near the city of Omashu in the Earth Kingdom, the Cave of Two Lovers is a secret tunnel that passes through a section of the Kolau Mountain Range. The tunnel is actually a giant underground labyrinth full of dangerous animals including wolfbats and badgermoles.[22]

Mining village

The mining village is a medium-sized village located in the Earth Kingdom. It is located on the northwestern coast of the Earth Kingdom, and its inhabitants make a living by mining coal in several nearby mines.[24]

Fire Nation

Boiling Rock

The Boiling Rock is a massive Fire Nation prison. Its name is derived from the fact that the prison is on an island in the middle of a boiling lake on a volcanic island. The Boiling Rock is where the most dangerous prisoners in the Fire Nation are held, domestic and foreign alike.[25]

Ember Island

Ember Island is a small resort located in the outer islands of the Fire Nation. It is home to many luxurious resorts and vacation homes for the wealthy and powerful. The beaches are among the most popular in the country and host many popular kuai ball games.[26]

Fire Fountain City

Fire Fountain City is a large, industrial city located in the Fire Nation. It is named for the large, fire-breathing statue of Fire Lord Ozai in its center. It is located on one of the many islands in the eastern half of the Fire Nation.[27]

Fire Nation Capital

The Fire Nation Capital is the seat of the government for the Fire Nation. It is home to the Fire Lord, the royal family, and nobles of the Fire Nation. The capital is located on the Capital Island, a larger island in the western region of the Fire Nation.[28]

Hira'a village

Jang Hui

Jang Hui is a small, poor village located in the outer islands of the Fire Nation. Located on the Jang Hui River, this unique Fire Nation village is made up of floating houseboats connected together.[29]

Shu Jing

Shu Jing is a town located in the Fire Nation. Situated on a cliff above a river and waterfalls and surrounded by beautiful mountains, this is one of the many small, peaceful villages that are tucked away throughout the Fire Nation islands.[30]

United Republic of Nations

Harbor town

The harbor town is a small coastal settlement located in the southern United Republic of Nations. Despite its strategic location, the village managed to stay free from Fire Nation occupation during the Hundred Year War.[3]

Makapu Village

Makapu Village is surrounded by tall rock formations which are the result of a lava flow cooled by Aang.

Makapu Village is a small farming town located in the northeastern United Republic of Nations on the slopes of Mt. Makapu, an active volcano. Volcanic eruptions have caused the soil around the volcano to become rich in minerals, making it perfect for agriculture. It was notable for being the residence of the fortuneteller Aunt Wu. The village is also home to the rare panda lily flower, which grows in and around the crater of the volcano, and which is commonly used as a symbol of everlasting love and unity.[32]

Republic City

Republic City has a vast skyline dotted by several high-rise buildings.

Republic City is a large metropolis located in the lower areas of a mountainous region, with large bodies of water in the immediate vicinity. It was founded as the capital of the United Republic of Nations, a fifth nation created by Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang after the end of the Hundred Year War.

Seedy merchants pier

The seedy merchants pier is a small harbor and town in the southern United Republic of Nations. It is a tiny trading port with a seedy element. Here one can buy almost anything, from jewelry to pottery to musical instruments and trivial items. The seedy merchant's pier welcomes all nations so long as they have an inclination for a bargain.[33]

Senlin Village

Senlin Village is a small farming village located in the center of a dense forest in the southern United Republic of Nations. It was attacked by the spirit Hei Bai near the winter solstice of 99 AG.[34]

Taku

Taku is an abandoned city located along the coast of the United Republic of Nations. Prior to its destruction during the early stages of the Hundred Year War, the settlement was an important center of commerce.[35]

Neutral locations

Mo Ce Sea

The Mo Ce Sea is a small, open body of water between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. It extends from the Hu Xin provinces of the Earth Kingdom to the Crescent Island and from the Fire Nation islands to the western coast of the Earth Kingdom.[36]

Whaletail Island

Whaletail Island is a large island situated off of the southwestern coast of the Earth Kingdom and among the Southern Air Nomad archipelago. The island gets its name from its distinctive shape, which on maps bears an uncanny resemblance to a whale's tail.[9][37]

Physical geography

Air Nomads

The four air temples, one at each corner of the globe, are concealed atop mountain ranges in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands.[1][2][4][38]

Water Tribes

The Northern and Southern Water Tribes populate the South and North Poles respectively,[39] and there is also a small population of waterbenders that reside at a swamp in the Earth Kingdom.[5] Around the poles there are short mountain ridges about the inland and on the coast of the islands.

Earth Kingdom

Because of its immense size, the geography of the Earth Kingdom varies tremendously by region. Much of its interior consists of arid grasslands as well as the Si Wong Desert, which largely occupy the southeast.[40] Its northwest coast is dominated by dense pine forests, though further south, these are replaced by semitropical deciduous forests. The area near Omashu is fairly mountainous, with small pine thickets and large steppes.[14]

Fire Nation

The archipelago is located directly on the equator in the western hemisphere and is composed of numerous volcanoes, some of which are active. The geography of the Fire Nation is characterized by its multiple bays and fjords.[39]

Landforms

In the World of Avatar, there is a considerable number of distinct landforms in different parts of the four nations.

Bays

Chameleon Bay - A small body of water located in the northeastern Earth Kingdom. It is on the mouth of a river that leads to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se.[1]

Full Moon Bay - A secluded cove in the East Lake, located just south of Ba Sing Se.[11]

Yue Bay - A broad inlet located in the United Republic of Nations. It connects Republic City to the Mo Ce Sea.

Islands

Air Temple Island - An island located in Yue Bay, directly outside Republic City. The island features a dining hall, an airbending training area, a meditation pavilion, and quarters for White Lotus sentries.

Crescent Island - An uninhabited island in the outer Fire Nation that once housed a temple for the Fire Sages and was a shrine dedicated to Avatar Roku.[34]

Ember Island - A small resort destination located in the outer islands of the Fire Nation archipelago. It is home to many luxurious facilities and vacation homes for the country's nobility.[26]

Hing Wa Island - Grows ash bananas which are imported to villages across the Fire Nation. The journey to the island is two days long from Hama's village.[43]

Kirachu Island - A location hailed for its delectable collection of food, especially its spicy soufflés.[44]

Kyoshi Island - A small island off the southern coast of the Earth Kingdom that is dotted with many small villages. It is famous for being the homeland of Avatar Kyoshi as well as the Kyoshi Warriors, who succeeded her.[19]

Mt. Makapu - Located in the vicinity of an Earth Kingdom settlement known as Makapu Village.[32]

Roku's island - Situated in the Fire Nation, its eruption was responsible for the death of Avatar Roku.[45]

Climate

Each sovereignty of the four nations is characterized by a distinct climate as well as a predominant season during which benders are born at a faster rate and become stronger. These attributes illustrate the qualities of the nations.

Air Nomads

The Air Nomad's dominant season was autumn.[49] Although the country was geographically and topographically diverse, the climate varied little from one temple to another. Snow falls in the Southern and Northern temples during autumn and winter.

Water Tribe

The Water Tribe's dominant season is winter,[49] though the Northern and Southern tribes regularly experience snowfall year-round. Other forms of precipitation are rare due to the below-freezing temperatures, and thus the air is usually lacking in humidity. The average yearly temperature in the Southern Water Tribe is negative 49 degrees.[50]

Earth Kingdom

The Earth Kingdom's dominant season is spring.[49] The average temperatures across different portions of the Earth Kingdom vary greatly because of its vast size. Some areas, such as the Foggy Swamp, are humid and rainy while other areas, such as the Si Wong Desert and Great Divide, are quite arid. Omashu and Ba Sing Se are more temperate. The coldest region of the Earth Kingdom is in and around Kyoshi Island, where the climate conditions are often subpolar.

Fire Nation

The Fire Nation's dominant season is summer.[49] The climate in the Fire Nation varies, though most regions have a tropical or arid subtropical climate, and many areas experience high average temperatures year-round. Even though rainfall is sporadic, the Fire Nation boasts a wide variety of exotic fauna and flora, all due to its humid climate.

Demography

Air Nomads

After the Air Nomad Genocide resulted in the near complete extinction of the Air Nomads and the fauna that lived in the air temples with them, the population of the Air Nomads was small compared to the other nations, even the Water Tribes. The sole known survivor of the massacre was Aang, the Avatar. Only the younger of Aang's two sons, Tenzin, is an airbender and has, in turn, fathered three more airbenders. However, after the Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG, people in both the Earth Kingdom and United Republic gained the ability to airbend, bringing the art back from the brink of extinction.[51]

Water Tribes

The population of the Water Tribes is relatively small and is the third most populous nation. Due to the Hundred Year War, the Southern Water Tribe was nearly driven to the brink of extinction through a series of raids,[9] hence the Northern Water Tribe is the most populous division in the nation.

Earth Kingdom

The Earth Kingdom is the most populous nation in the World of Avatar. Ba Sing Se, its capital, is one of the largest and most advanced cities on Earth. Due to the fact that the Earth Kingdom has the largest expanse of territory, it is an ethnically diverse country, with wide variance in customs between different provinces and tribes. The Earth Kingdom has never suffered a heavy loss of life or any sort of extinction in civilization despite its constant state of warfare.

Fire Nation

The Fire Nation is the second largest nation in the world in terms of population and area. The nation has suffered some loss of life because of the Hundred Year War, but not as much as the other nations, who have been victims of more devastating invasions and genocides. The population of the Fire Nation is mostly concentrated in urban centers, though smaller settlements, villages, and towns dot the islands as well.

Trivia

Each nation in the World of Avatar bears similarities to locations in our own world:

The Fire Nation geography is based on Iceland[52] while its cultures are analogous to ancient China, especially the Qin and Han dynasties.

The Earth Kingdom is expansive, agrarian, and diverse, much like China, with architecture and clothing comparable to that of later Chinese dynasties, notably the Ming and Qing dynasties. The sandbenders share more similarities with Uyghurs and outer Mongolians, while the Kyoshi Warriors adopt customs similar to the Japanese.

Air Nomad clothes and customs are similar to Tibetans and Central Asians.

The Water Tribes are similar to the Inuits and Kipchak tribes.

Although there are four air temples, there are only three Air Nomad archipelagos, as the Northern Air Temple is located on the northern tip of the Earth Kingdom mainland.

Despite seasons/eclipses happening world-over, the World of Avatar is round.[53]